The bands and musicians that play Salt Lake inevitably come back, despite it being relatively far away from other tour stops—this city is full of passionate music makers and fans, and the stoke is infectious. And in addition to its popular outdoor music festivals and superstar arena concerts, Salt Lake has some awesome smaller venues that are booking killer shows. Here’s a guide to the best small and mid-sized places to see live music in SLC, and who’s playing this month.
The DepotLocated in …more

Shopping is a favorite Salt Lake pastime, from the various boutiques across the valley to downtown’s state-of-the-art City Creek Shopping Center. The latter is a 23-acre open-air mall than spans across charming Main Street. City Creek opened in 2012, and it was the catalyst for the rapid transformation of Salt Lake’s urban center and arts district. It’s not only Salt Lake’s go-to destination for upscale and contemporary shopping, it’s also a favorite hang spot for families, friends, …more

There’s no shortage of spots to get your pastry fix in Salt Lake, whether you want to start the day off right with a morning bun and shot of espresso, cap off your evening with some millefeuille and pinot noir, or just grab a fresh baguette on your way to a Red Butte concert. Here are some of our very favorite bakeries and cafes.
GourmandiseGourmandise is celebrated for its tantalizing selection of fine French pastries and desserts. And it’s not just casually celebrated—in 2016, Gourmandise …more

Yes, as a matter of fact, there are bars in Salt Lake. Many of them are indeed top shelf! Despite what you may think about an alleged lack of alcohol in the Beehive State of Utah, the great Salt Lake is actually teeming with craft breweries, high-end cocktail lounges and fun dive bars at which to let your hair down while downing a few cold ones. Here are some of the top spots for “bottoms up!” in Salt Lake, where a little glitz, glam and celebrity is often mixed in with your mixed drinks.Bar-X
…more

Originally established during Utah’s immigration and mining boom in 1910, the historic Peery Hotel is celebrating its Grand Re-Opening—complete with a full remodel, and two new restaurants. The beautiful and elegant restoration of the hotel includes a complete redesign of the hotels interior including all guest rooms, the main lobby, meeting space and the addition of two new independent specialty restaurants and bars. The Oak Wood Fire Kitchen, which specializes in wood fired …more

The Utah Beer Festival is back for its 7th round! (Picture us prancing in a field of hops, a frothy stein in each hand.) This year beer-lovers will enjoy more elbow room, as the festival has been moved to the spacious Utah State Fair Park. AND there’s more beer on offer than ever before. AND the festival raises funds for the Human Society of Utah, so you can feel extra good about quaffing that cold one.
If you’ve never been to the Utah Beer Festival, here’s a power preview:Date: Saturday, …more

The 2016 Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Society of Association Executives comes to the Salt Palace August 13th to 16th.
This year's program includes inspirational thought leaders from across the industry, NASA Astronauts, humanitarians, inventors, authors, and more.
If you haven't had a chance to register, now is the time.
Even if you can't make it, don't miss the highlights of this year's ASAE Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City - tune into the social media live …more

Salt Lake’s diverse spirit and eclectic collection of hip neighborhoods has powered a cultural boom in the mountain and desert urban center. As a constellation of trendy, emerging neighborhoods, Salt Lake is cool in ways other than just snow and slopes. If you haven’t seen the new frontier of hip, these up-and-coming neighborhoods are taking it to the next level in the high-altitude haven that is the new Salt Lake.
DowntownThe heart of the revitalized Salt Lake is …more

Meat. Salt. Time. For thousands of years, those three simple ingredients have been at the heart of all cured meats. Originally developed as a means of preservation prior to the age of refrigeration, cured meats, also referred to as salumi or charcuterie, have become an old world art form, a true delicacy, and an essential component of any serious wine and cheese spread. For more than a few reasons, Salt Lake has become an ideal location for masters of the craft. Just consider the three key …more

Salt Lake’s awe-inspiring nature may reign supreme, but there’s plenty of culture to go around, too. A quick weekend getaway can easily turn into a world of discovery in this home to some of the country’s leading festivals and innovative art galleries. From this summer’s Twilight Concert Series to a booming microbrewery scene, here are eight interactive ways to get cultured, Salt Lake style.1. Pride Festival/ParadeJune 3-5Ready to show your colors? Join the 41st …more

Cycling in Salt Lake

One of the most happening cycling scenes in the nation is right here in the Beehive State's capital, Salt Lake. From skinny tires to fat, from townies to fixies, Salt Lake offers an incredible array of biking options.

When the famed "Greatest Snow On Earth" starts to melt from the Wasatch, small and not-so-small two-wheeled armies start invading the trails, streets, paths and hills in and around Salt Lake. Here, in no particular order or hierarchy, is a breakdown of the more noticeable and mainstream cycling options for the hard-core to the casual commuter.

Mountain Biking

The mountains of Northern Utah offer not only epic skiing and snowboarding, but they're home to incredible mountain biking as well. Sure, Moab and Park City get most of the mountain biking accolades, but in the foothills and mountains that surround Salt Lake lay a patchwork of trails tailored to the fat tire enthusiast, with near-immediate access. There are trails for the novice mountain biker and trails for the gear-riddled downhiller, often with access from the same trailhead. Check out the trails listed in Hiking & Biking.

Perhaps one of Utah's most ridden mountain bike trails is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. As the name implies, much of the trail is on or near the shoreline bench of the ancient glacial Lake Bonneville, traversing above the valley populace and offering stunning panoramic views. Though it actually spans the entirety of the Wasatch Front, the most popular section of the Shoreline Trail tends to be from City Creek to Emigration Canyon. Along the trail are a number of spurs, many of which feature incredibly fast and fun descents, some with features for those with serious travel in their shocks. These multiple spurs and trailheads also allow for varying lengths of rides.

Another one of Salt Lake's more popular mountain bike rides is the Wasatch Crest Trail, basically traversing the ridge that separates Salt Lake from Park City, and running from Big Cottonwood Canyon to Mill Creek Canyon. The actual trail begins near Guardsman Pass, so many opt for a shuttle from Salt Lake; heartier souls make the climb. This trail, without a doubt, offers some incredible views in all directions.

Road Cycling

For those whose only exposure to road cycling is from watching the Tour de France each July, it often surprises them to find so many professional cyclists are either from Utah or have strong ties to it (David Zabriskie, Marty Jemison, Levi Leipheimer, Jeff Louder and Burke Swindlehurst, to name a few). There's actually a very simple explanation for that: Utah's roads and mountains are ideal proving grounds for the pro peloton. If you're not quite Tour-worthy and not really interested in racing, know there's a long list of roads or paths ideally suited to you, too.

Gentle, cruising cycling paths include the Jordan River Parkway and the Great Salt Lake Legacy Parkway. For good, intermediate-level climbing, Emigration Canyon tends to be popular choice for a number of reasons: good pavement, fairly wide shoulders, great accessibility and, for the most part, courteous and aware drivers. If you want to test your cycling mettle, there's always Little and Big Cottonwood canyons as well as Millcreek, each of which offers serious challenge as well as very rewarding and speedy descents. Connecting all of these is a very good network of roads and paths, so getting around from anywhere in the valley is relatively simple.

Urban Cycling

Say you're in town visiting and simply want to pedal around and check things out. Believe it or not, the topography and streets of Salt Lake seem almost designed for bikes. In fact, exploring and experiencing all that downtown Salt Lake has to offer may best be accomplished on two wheels. First, the city itself is relatively flat, allowing for non-geared bikes to roam freely. Second, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is a staunch supporter of cycling and, more importantly, safe cycling. City streets are wide, many of which feature bike lanes. On popular avenues with limited space, the city has implemented "shared lanes," designated by 4-foot wide green stripes, whereby bicycles can utilize the entire lane just as vehicles do until the street widens again and a bike path begins.

And Salt Lake is one of many cities to adopt a Bike Share program, where members (1-day to annual memberships available) can check out a bike from any number of Bike Share stations and ride it around town, returning the bike to any other station. Again, it's a great way to see and experience the downtown core of the city.

Whether you fall into the casual category and simply want to explore Salt Lake City on a cruiser bike, or you want rip a gnarly downhill, a number of Salt Lake bike shops can get you set up. Shops that offer excellent inventory and stellar customer service include Contender Bicycles in the 9th and 9th neighborhood and Millcreek Bicycles in the Olympus Cove area.

So whether you throw your leg over an old townie or a bike worth more than many cars, strap on shin guards and a full-face mask to ride your 10" travel downhill bike or just want to take a spin with your kids, Salt Lake offers the ideal ride for you. There's a lot to see and do in and around Salt Lake, and much of it is best experienced perched atop a bike. Enjoy!